Gas Sensor

[broconne]

Wondering about placement of gas sensors - I have read the instructions for the model I think I will purchase - but am still not sure about placement.

I expect to go with the 3M/Macuro model built for alarm systems: Link

Where can I put this thing to catch true alarms but avoid false alarms from our cooktop? I am looking to catch natural gas which the instructions seem to indicate would rise. I can hide this thing in the hood, but I have a few concerns about potential hood placement.

(1) How well do these things respond to steam, will they false alarm? Will it hurt the life of the product? We will have a downdraft which I am sure will not always be on or perfect at capturing everything.

(2) Is this too close to the cooktop? Will it go off every time the gas is on? Anyone have experience with these?

(3) I could also put this on top of the cabinetry that surrounds the kitchen - but not sure if there would be sufficient air flow. Ceiling mount is another option - but these sensors are pretty industrial not sure about WAF on it sticking out of the ceiling.

 

[sic0048]

I assume you are speaking of natural gas. Natural gas is lighter than air, so it will rise to the highest point of the room. I would think any detector should be as close to this highpoint as possible. On a flat ceiling, I think close, on the ceiling but not directly over the range/oven would be the best place.

LP gas is of course heavier than air, so any detector should be below the supply line.

 

[Sacedog]

I purchased a Mucaro as well, and placed mine right above the counter, about 3 feet left of the cook-top. I haven't had any issues with false alarms during cooking, and have had it installed for 6 months now.

 

[broconne]

I purchased a Mucaro as well, and placed mine right above the counter, about 3 feet left of the cook-top. I haven't had any issues with false alarms during cooking, and have had it installed for 6 months now.

Could you take a picture and post it here? I can't seem to get my hands on that model - i am curious how it looks WAF wise..

 

[Sacedog]

I purchased a Mucaro as well, and placed mine right above the counter, about 3 feet left of the cook-top. I haven't had any issues with false alarms during cooking, and have had it installed for 6 months now.

Could you take a picture and post it here? I can't seem to get my hands on that model - i am curious how it looks WAF wise..

Yep, I'll get one up tonight.

 

[Sacedog]

Here is the unit up close. I installed it into a 2-gang box, but you could use a mud ring too.



The arrow indicates where it is in the picture. As you can see, it is at counter height, about 4 feet away from the stove. My wife insisted that she put bric-a-brac in front of it, which will probably affect its ability to sense gas as quickly. I put it in because the stove in our last house was turned off one night, and while the flame extinguished, the gas still ran. I woke up in the middle of the night, and could smell the gas...got everyone out of the house, and luckily there wasn't an incident. In that case, the gas detector would have had no problem doing its job, well before it would have been a major issue.

 

[amirm]

I have not purchased mine but downloaded the manual for the unit here: http://selector.3m.com/selector/us/en/heal...eets/shgd2a.pdf

This is what it says:

"LOCATION: If the gas used is natural gas (methane) mount the GD-2A on a wall about one foot
down from the ceiling. If the gas used is propane (LP), mount the GD-2A on a wall or column, one foot above the floor. Do NOT mount the GD-2A in a corner."

I would be hesitant to put it in the hood. Until the burners light, you are going to get some amount of gas being released and you will surely get false alarms. You also want the unit to detect leakage from the gas lines leading to the cooktop and those many not collect in the hood. I also worry that the hood airflow would reduce the density of the gas, leading to no detection.

Yes, the units are large and ugly. Fortunately for me, we are on LP so I get to have it down low.

FYI, there was another document which said to put the unit far away from sources of ignition. I can't find it right now but my detector is outside of the kitchen area. That would be another reason to avoid over cooktop location.

 

[broconne]

Here is the unit up close. I installed it into a 2-gang box, but you could use a mud ring too.
View attachment 2465


The arrow indicates where it is in the picture. As you can see, it is at counter height, about 4 feet away from the stove. My wife insisted that she put bric-a-brac in front of it, which will probably affect its ability to sense gas as quickly. I put it in because the stove in our last house was turned off one night, and while the flame extinguished, the gas still ran. I woke up in the middle of the night, and could smell the gas...got everyone out of the house, and luckily there wasn't an incident. In that case, the gas detector would have had no problem doing its job, well before it would have been a major issue.
View attachment 2466

Nice Kitchen! Very nice finish on those cabinets - something I never would have noticed before I actually had to help pick out cabinets.

Ok - So it seems like in the hood is a bad spot. I am attaching a finished picture from the model home which has the layout of the kitchen - hoping for some advice on placement:

(1) Rest it on top of the hood - perhaps a few inches back from the front - that would mostly hide it, but I would think that enough gas would flow up there if left on?
(2) Place it on the wall above the cabinets a few inches over - maybe near where the plates are in the picture.

I don't think WAF would allow it to be on the backsplash itself - unless it provided a large safety advantage over another installation.

Any better spots - I am open to ideas!